A faint, fishy stench persistently lingered in Li Man'er's nostrils. Her senses were far sharper than an ordinary person's; she could detect things others couldn't.
That fishy odor was unmistakably the smell of gu.
What is gu? It is made by throwing five poisonous creatures into a container and letting them kill each other. The victor becomes the gu.
Initially toxic, gu, through continuous evolution, has taken on numerous forms. However, it remains the same at its core: a malevolent entity. No amount of incense can mask its foul stench.
It seems today is the day for reckoning, the day when many things will be brought to light.
"Why has the old madam summoned me?"
The candlelight illuminated Madam Cui's face, her wrinkles stretching as if pulled taut, a rather terrifying sight.
"What matter did the Emperor summon you to the palace for?" She had sent people to inquire but learned nothing. The Empress had even sent word, instructing her not to pry too much and to mind her own business.
She was the matriarch of the Tie Dan Marquis Manor, the widow of the late Marquis. She wasn't inquiring about imperial affairs; she was asking about her own granddaughter, and yet she was accused of meddling. Madam Cui, naturally, couldn't swallow this insult. All these grievances combined had led her to a desperate gamble.
Li Man'er's guess was correct. Madam Cui was making a last stand, intending to finish her off here. Unfortunately for her, Madam Cui had miscalculated. There was no poison in this world that could kill Li Man'er, not even gu.
"His Majesty summoned me for matters of state, naturally. Your granddaughter has been in the northern wilderness for over half a year; she's bound to know something. What's so strange about that? As for the old madam, you hold a noble title, yet you dare to inquire about imperial matters. This borders on interfering with state affairs. I believe you're tired of living."
The last statement was incredibly rude. In the past, Madam Cui would have flown into a rage. But today, she felt that Li Man'er would lose at least some skin even if she didn't die, so she held back.
"If you won't say, so be it! Come, accompany the Empress Dowager in the palace. The Empress spoke for a long time; you must be hungry?" Madam Cui waved her hand, and Granny Wang approached with a soup tureen. Simultaneously, six robust servant women advanced towards Li Man'er, as if to restrain her.
Li Man'er glanced at the soup tureen and chuckled, "What is Grandmother planning?"
Madam Cui remained silent, but Granny Wang, with a stern face, spoke without politeness, "This is a tonic the old madam has bestowed upon the eldest miss. A gift from an elder should not be refused. Eldest miss, drink it all, or you will be considered unfilial."
The doors and windows were tightly shut. Everyone inside and outside the room belonged to Madam Cui. The six strong servant women were all physically imposing, comparable in build to men. If Li Man'er were still her original self, she would have been utterly helpless.
"What are you waiting for? Serve the eldest miss her soup." Granny Wang gave the order, and the six servant women rushed towards Li Man'er. They worked in concert; some tried to grab Li Man'er's arms, while others went for her legs, fearing she might escape and not drink the soup from Granny Wang's hands.
"Who dares to move?" Li Man'er roared. "Before you act, consider how strong your necks are."
Unfortunately, these were Madam Cui's people; they naturally wouldn't heed Li Man'er's warning. Madam Cui still wore a smile, as if she could already envision Li Man'er kneeling and begging her after being poisoned by the gu.
Li Man'er let out a cold laugh. She immediately grabbed one outstretched hand and twisted it forcefully.
With a sickening crack, the servant woman's wrist was snapped by Li Man'er. She cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground with a thud, rolling around clutching her broken wrist, crying, "It hurts, it hurts so much!"
Li Man'er delivered a flying kick, sending a servant woman flying backward. The woman couldn't even utter a sound before she was thrown several meters away, crashing to the ground with a clang and immediately losing consciousness.
Everything happened too quickly. In the blink of an eye, Li Man'er had dealt with two servant women, each blow landing precisely. Even Madam Cui, who was watching, couldn't clearly see how they had fallen.
"What are you waiting for? Seize her!" Granny Wang was cunning. Seeing Li Man'er's skill, she quickly retreated a few steps, letting the remaining four surge forward.
However, these women only possessed brute strength, not martial arts skills. They had underestimated Li Man'er's abilities and her intent to kill.
How could Li Man'er be a lamb to the slaughter? She wasn't from this era. To make her believe in the concepts of ruler and subject, father and son, and to submit meekly was harder than climbing to heaven! Forget Madam Cui and Li Shu; if they pushed her too far, what was the Emperor himself?
With a few punches and kicks, Li Man'er knocked the remaining servant women to the ground. The most unfortunate one was kicked five to six meters away by Li Man'er, landing at Madam Cui's feet. This woman had several ribs broken, the fragments piercing her lungs. She immediately vomited blood profusely and died without a single word.
Madam Cui cowered, her face filled with terror. Granny Wang wasn't much better, trembling with the soup tureen in her hands, looking as if she had seen a ghost.
Li Man'er walked step by step towards Madam Cui. Madam Cui was terrified; she felt the presence of death. She wanted to shout, to scream, but all her words were choked in her throat, unable to utter a single sound.
Li Man'er sneered and stopped in front of Granny Wang.
"You, what do you want?" Granny Wang, still somewhat loyal, stood in front of Madam Cui, feigning courage. "Eldest miss, think twice. If you dare disrespect the old madam, this servant will call for help!"
"Go ahead and call!" Li Man'er was not afraid. "To deal with me, you've probably cleared everyone out, leaving only a few strong maids to capture this young lady. What a fool's dream."
Li Man'er was right. To avoid attracting attention, Madam Cui had made arrangements. As soon as Li Man'er arrived, she had the courtyard sealed off, intending to trap her like a turtle in a jar. But who would have thought they would become the turtles?
"I won't hide it from you, my maidservant didn't resist and let you send her away, did she?" Li Man'er sneered. "That was on my instruction; I deliberately let her leave. You bunch of misfits dared to scheme against me? You're seeking death."
A fierce glint flashed in Li Man'er's eyes. Having tasted blood, the killing aura she exuded was something Madam Cui, a woman of the inner chambers, could not withstand.
"You, who are you?"
Madam Cui refused to believe the person before her was Li Man'er. That little brat was always timid; when did she acquire such abilities?
"Who am I?" Li Man'er repeatedly sneered. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
She reached out, snatched the soup tureen from Granny Wang's hand, and sniffed it lightly.
Hope flared in Madam Cui and Granny Wang's eyes, as if they wished the creatures in the jar would leap out and burrow into Li Man'er's nose and mouth.
"This gu is made from a centipede. Ordinary people can't obtain it. My dear grandmother, why don't you tell me, who are you really?"